This summary table includes the relevant information on religion under the various Tudors, from Henry VII to Elizabeth I. As part of my ALevel studies, I compiled down my notes to create these tables which have all the relevant content on, which helped to form the basis of all my revision.
The ta...
Henry VII Henry VIII Edward VI Mary I Elizabeth
During H7’s reign the English Church It was when the King’s Great Matter was There is an idea argued by historians of an Mary’s fundamental aim was restoring Elizabeth’s religious policy is often referred to as
was in general, a healthy state. discussed, that religion firstly played a large ‘Edwardian Reformation’ during this time – the England back to Catholicism – might be due to the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. She passed a
All people in England belonged to the role in society – or at least was questioned idea that Edward created a Protestant England her mother (CoA) being Catholic & essentially series of laws that created the Church of England as
Catholic Church – therefore it had a for the first time E6 desperately needed to unify the religion in everything bad that happened during her a Protestant Church with a moderate theology that
strong influence WOLSEY: England as H8 had left it in a very confusing childhood was associated with Protestantism would not be offensive to Catholics or extreme
Little dissent & generally cordial Achieving the King’s Great Matter – his state. Changing religion was always going to be eg the divorce of her mother & father which Protestants in order to maintain stability after a
(friendly) relationship between King & annulment - was W’s greatest threat in his hard as you needed to win peoples head AND left her isolated – motivated her in wanting to period of confusion and supposed ‘crisis’. She does
Pope. time as Lord Chancellor & arguably, if it heart, and the heart is much harder to win. go against her father, reverting back to this by blending many ideas/beliefs of different
Humanism had begun to take root, but were not for this failure in achieving this, Although people were pragmatic & accepted the Catholicism. religions from Catholicism to Puritanism to create
its popularity was extremely small & its then he would not have fell from power in religious changes on the surface, beneath it they This desire was not unpopular, in many areas, ‘the middle way’.
major influence would not be felt until 1529. did not. However, many can argue that Edward local people began restoring Catholic practises These changes were made in E’s first Parliament
the reign of H8 – only a few wanted Problem was difficult because in order to was never going to be able to change a even before M’s government ordered religious 1559 May Act of Supremacy – issue of control over
change. Must be recognised that get a divorce, H8 would have to go through generation of peoples beliefs in just the 6 years changes, showing that Protestantism was far the church was settled by the Act of Supremacy. It
religion was not something which the Pope, however, Pope was under the he reigned. from embedded in 1553. re-established the English monarch as head of the
appeared to need ‘changing’ until H8 control of Charles V (so much so that C even SOMERSET: He himself was sympathetic to Little evidence of Humanist thought Church, although E chose to be titled ‘Supreme
bought around the Break From Rome – held the P as prisoner), and he was CoA’s reformist ideas but he recognised that any major throughout her reign Governor’ instead of the more controversial title –
the need to question religion was not a nephew – not going to allow this divorce to & systematic reform to religious practice & However, about 80MPs opposed the repeal of ‘Supreme Head’ which H8 had adopted in 1534. She
thing until this point. happen at the expense of his auntie. Wolsey doctrine would cause considerable division the Edwardian religious legislation – mostly was therefore able to still satisfy those who
Also, H7 was far too concerned with failed – he was Papal Legate – had supposed within England – saw the reactions to religious due to the fact that many MPs had bought regarded the Pope as the rightful head of the
wanting to secure his succession – even loyalties to Pope – he was charged with change under H8 & did not want this same land that used to be owned by the church & church or felt it was wrong for a woman to hold the
if he had wanted to ever made changes praemunire in 1529 & Cromwell in many disruption eg PoG. were worried that a return to Catholic faith top position. Required all churchmen to swear an
to the Church, this would have been ways learnt from the failures of W and He got the gov to set out a full scale enquiry into would mean they would lose these lands. oath of loyalty to their Supreme Governor. To make
disastrous as it would have isolated achieved this urgent wish for H8. the state of the Church of England; ultimately Before Mary could implement any changes, sure that the change of leadership was truly being
himself from other countries CROMWELL: designed to slow down any decisions in regards she had to proceed cautiously as there were a accepted at parish level, commissioners were sent
(significantly the Catholic countries who From 1533, C passed a variety of acts of to the situations relating to religion. number of issues she had to solve. Eg: out to investigate & a new court was established
happened to be the strong, powerful & Parliament in order to establish royal 1547 New Treason act – one of the first pieces - there was a strong protestant (the Court of High Commission) to prosecute those
dominant rulers of the late 14th century) supremacy; of legislation passed under Ed’s reign which minority in London & other parts of whose loyalty was suspect – especially significant as
and consequently he would not have April 1533: Act in Restraint of Appeals – no allowed religious issues to be discussed & the South this was limiting the threat E would face from
met his FP aims of wanting appeals could be made to Rome against the removed censorship; this formally replaced the 6 - Reformed Protestant CoE had been various localities; those places which uprisings &
international peace & recognition. decisions made in English courts, limiting articles under H8 established by statute law – this rebellions had typically arisen from under her
Function of the Church – (good way at their authority. Also especially important as 1547 Chantries Act – specifically targeted the meant that in order for M to repeal predecessors.
comparing these w how the Church was after this was something which CoA had done in chantries, which were religious foundations that the legislation, she would have to Act of Uniformity 1559 – set out the rules about the
the Break from Rome etc) 1529 when the first court meeting was held were established for the purpose of providing accept that the laws passed during appearances of churches. Said that any practices
o Was a means of maintaining to discuss the annulment. masses for the souls of the dead. Under this act H8’s reign were legally valid. which had existed in 1549 when the first prayer
social control April 1534: Act of Succession – annulled they were resolved & their property and assets - Many members of the political book had been issued, should still be followed.
o Played an important social H8’s marriage to Catherine were confiscated by the crown. Significant step elites, whose support M depended Although the alter was replaced by the more
role; e.g. monasteries acted November 1534: Act of Supremacy – King in the dismantling of the Catholic Church. on, had acquired Church land & Protestant communion table, Catholic artefacts
as charity, education, declared supreme head of Church in However, some would argue that this was done had no desire to return it: ex- such as crosses & candles could be placed upon it. A
hospitals etc. the England. Pope’s authority was no longer to raise money for Scottish war than for religious monastic land Royal Injunction July 1559 – it was impossible to set
o owned 1/3 of the land; had recognised in England, ‘The Break From reasons. Actions: out all the regulations governing the reformed faith
considerable wealth Rome’. H8 now held a power which no King Not until after the war was over with Scotland - some prominent clergy, including 7 in a single act of Parliament, so further instructions
o the Pope was not expected had ever held before; Cromwell had that the gov felt secure enough to take firm bishops were deprived of their were issued. They were 57 instructions, including
to interfere in the running of achieved what Wolsey had not. action to sort out confusion of religious policy livings rules that:
the Church (why it can be November 1534: Treason Act – became 1st Prayer Book in 1549 = VERY vague - foreign protestants were ordered o Preachers had to be licensed by a bishop
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